Two Out Of Villa Park In January Re-Shuffle?

Still not a great deal of real news about, this season has been a nightmare stop start affair so far thanks to the international friendlies (the qualifiers were ok but again, stupid timing really)

Anyway, as there is such a shortage, I thought I'd go to the bastion of all things football, The Daily Star and see what is going on! :o)

According to a report by Dave Armitage, Martin O'Neill will ditch both Nigel Hokey-Cokey and Nicky Shorey in the January transfer window.

The report claims that MON wants to strengthen the squad but needs to re-coup some money after spending £40m this summer.

Hogwash... we don't have a sell to buy policy, simple as that. That isn't to say that the manager won't want to clear deadwood, that is what all managers do, but the implication we HAVE to sell before buying isn't accurate at all.

Shorey, bought from Reading for around £4million, has failed to break into the team on a regular basis and certainly won't know we have Stephen Warnock but do we not need cover? Then again, I wouldn't think Shorey is happy a) being cover b) not really getting a chance at Villa (for whatever reason and lets face it, it was a MON buy, so there must be a reason he's not featured a great deal - one we'll never know!)

The paper also says he'll offload NRC which, despite them kissing and making up after their handbags at dawn, isn't totally inconceivable is it? He has never really played in what he considers his best position since we splashed out £8.5million for him from West Ham. Bolton Wanderers, Blues and Blackburn Rovers were all linked the other day.

All speculation but as we build up to the January transfer window, there will be more and more of this, hopefully more about incoming than outgoing though.

So what do you think, better to sell Shorey and NRC if they don't look like featuring in the starting 11? Personally I'd not sell a single player until we are guaranteed a better quality replacement. That is unless they are upsetting the dressing room or are 100% not in MON's plans like out on loan at Newcastle United Marlon Harewood obviously.

I'd think that NRC would jump at a move but from what I hear, it would be a move down South he'd want.

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Your Comments (oldest first)

Feel sorry for Coker in a way, because his career has just never got going with us. Cant fault his attitude and effort, but sometimes he is just total cack that cant pass the ball 10 yards. I personally would rather see Gardener & Delph given more of a chance now, Coker has had 3 seasons to prove himself and establish himself at Villa - and he hasnt done it. However, I hope he is more sucessful at his next club than he has been with us.

Feel sorry for Coker in a way, because his career has just never got going with us. Cant fault his attitude and effort, but sometimes he is just total cack that cant pass the ball 10 yards. I personally would rather see Gardener & Delph given more of a chance now, Coker has had 3 seasons to prove himself and establish himself at Villa - and he hasnt done it. However, I hope he is more sucessful at his next club than he has been with us.

I'd only let them go if it means we can fund a move for a decent creative midfielder (Hamsik, Gourcuff, Sneijder) or a top quality striker (Dzeko, Horseface, Huntelaar, Kiessling). Yes, I know i'm dreaming, but I live in hope that one day, just one day it might happen....

I'd only let them go if it means we can fund a move for a decent creative midfielder (Hamsik, Gourcuff, Sneijder) or a top quality striker (Dzeko, Horseface, Huntelaar, Kiessling). Yes, I know i'm dreaming, but I live in hope that one day, just one day it might happen....

Yatesy, I have been hoping and praying for the likes of a Huntelaar or Van der Vaart or Gourcuff for sometime now. Bottom line, Martin O'Neil won't even make an inquiry about them because they aren't English.

Yatesy, I have been hoping and praying for the likes of a Huntelaar or Van der Vaart or Gourcuff for sometime now. Bottom line, Martin O'Neil won't even make an inquiry about them because they aren't English.

I think that Young when he comes to form can be the creative man we need, then DJ on the left and Milly in right.
I hope that Bannan can build himself up a bit more as from what we have seen of him he could possibly be the creative man in a couple of years

I think that Young when he comes to form can be the creative man we need, then DJ on the left and Milly in right.
I hope that Bannan can build himself up a bit more as from what we have seen of him he could possibly be the creative man in a couple of years

I think if Bouma is ready, we should let shorey go, although i think he's very tidy attacking, he has been a little on the weak side defending. I'd like Reo Coker to be given a run in the 1st team adhead of Sidders... think he's a better tackler and puts in more effort.

I think if Bouma is ready, we should let shorey go, although i think he's very tidy attacking, he has been a little on the weak side defending. I'd like Reo Coker to be given a run in the 1st team adhead of Sidders... think he's a better tackler and puts in more effort.

I think our team is perfect for the Liverpool 4-2-3-1 formation. 2 DM's (Reo-Coker/Petrov or Delph, Gardner etc etc [insert your preferred 2])
Milner on the right, DJ Downing on the left, Ashley Young in the free role of Attacking Mid & Gabby upfront. It made Liverpool look like world beaters last season at times so just think how successful it would be with actual talent all over the pitch!

I think our team is perfect for the Liverpool 4-2-3-1 formation. 2 DM's (Reo-Coker/Petrov or Delph, Gardner etc etc [insert your preferred 2])
Milner on the right, DJ Downing on the left, Ashley Young in the free role of Attacking Mid & Gabby upfront. It made Liverpool look like world beaters last season at times so just think how successful it would be with actual talent all over the pitch!

"Bottom line, Martin O'Neil won't even make an inquiry about them because they aren't English" - quite right too. We wouldn't want the likes of Stan Petrov, Carlos Cuellar, Freddy Bouma, the two Brads, Dunne, Collins, and a host of other foreign players in our first team squad, do we? :o)

"Bottom line, Martin O'Neil won't even make an inquiry about them because they aren't English" - quite right too. We wouldn't want the likes of Stan Petrov, Carlos Cuellar, Freddy Bouma, the two Brads, Dunne, Collins, and a host of other foreign players in our first team squad, do we? :o)

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